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The global pandemic hasn’t stopped thieves from stealing cars.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recently released its list the of the year’s top 10 stolen vehicles across Canada – which also revealed COVID-19 has led to some worrying auto crime trends.

Overall, 2.015 vehicles were stolen in 2020 and thieves continue to target SUVs and other off-road type vehicles. But there was one significant difference.

Right up until last year, the list was dominated by older, bigger pickup trucks. This year? Seems that keyless entry remotes are no longer a problem and it’s the first year enough newer SUVs were stolen in Ontario to push those vehicles to the dominant position instead of pickups.

For 2020, Canada’s most frequently stolen vehicles are:

1. 2018 Honda CR-V
2. 2017 Lexus RX
3. 2017 Honda CR-V
4. 2018 Lexus RX
5. 2018 Ford F-150
6. 2019 Honda CR-V
7. 2018 Toyota Highlander
8. 2017 Toyota Highlander
9. 2019 Lexus RX
10. 2017 Dodge Ram 1500

Compare this to 2019's list, which had looked similar to previous ones. Last year, the top four spots went to the Ford F-350 Super Duty AWD, from model years 2007 through 2004 in that order.

These annual had a lot of pre-2007 vehicles because the were easier to steal, since they sport far fewer theft-deterrents.

However, IBC noted many high-end SUVs continue to be stolen for export. Last year, the bureau launched a joint investigation with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and local police to crack down on an auto theft ring in Hamilton, Ont. It was found that the thieves targeted rental vehicles by using fraudulent documents to rent the automobiles, and then didn’t return them to sell them overseas.

Electronic theft rises

The bureau also mentioned in its report that it has observed the continued rise in electronic auto theft across the country, especially as more vehicles are equipped with technology such as keyless entry remotes. This has been a developing issue as thieves become more tech savvy.

But the pandemic has also seen a growing trend in dangerous illegal activities such as street racing and drifting events (when drivers force their car to slide sideways through a turn), the report said. These events have provided a market for stolen, small, and speedy vehicles, the bureau warned.

"Thieves have many motives. This year’s top 10 list confirms some key trends in auto theft that we are now seeing. Regardless of how a vehicle is stolen, auto theft is a serious threat to public safety and continues to cost all Canadians," IBC national director of investigative services Bryan Gast said.

Regionally, there were some differences including:

• In Alberta, Ford F-series and Dodge Ram trucks are the most popular vehicles to steal. These trucks are attractive to thieves, and oil and gas companies have used them almost exclusively, which has brought a disproportionately high number of them to the province. In addition, the 2007 and earlier models were easy to steal because many did not have theft-deterrent devices installed.
• In Ontario, Lexus and Honda vehicles dominate. Some were stolen for export by organized crime groups, while others have been identified in street racing rings. In Project Seagull in Hamilton, Ont., high-end vehicles were being stolen and “chopped” for parts that were sold on the black market.
• In Atlantic Canada, the Chevrolet Silverado is the most-stolen vehicle. Typically, vehicles like these are targets for export to foreign countries.

Tips to deter thieves

Gast does offer some easy-to-follow the advice that still appears to elude many vehicle owners.

• Park in a well-lit area
• Lock your car, and don’t leave the key fob in it, especially somewhere like a gas station
• Get a protector for your fob to block having it hacked with a relay
• Don’t leave your car idling in your driveway unattended
• Park your car in your garage
• Don’t let having a dashcam or security cameras give you a false sense of security; having a fleeting image of someone in a hat and/or mask doesn’t give police much to go on
• Before you purchase any car, run a Carfax to make sure the VIN hasn’t been changed or made up

Finally, when are you most likely to have your car stolen?

New Year’s Day.

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